Mummy and Cartonnage of Hor

Egyptian, Classical, Ancient Near Eastern Art

Cartonnage, linen covered with plaster and then painted, protected the mummy inside the coffin, while the symbols on it helped the deceased reach the afterlife. The bands on the front and sides of this cartonnage show protective deities holding knives and guarding the deceased against danger. The upper register on the front shows the Four Sons of Horus, also protectors. In the center of each of the three central bands are (from top to bottom): representations of the deceased in a kiosk on a bed, a symbol of protection; Osiris as a human-headed djed-pillar, a symbol of permanence; and the boat in a shrine, a symbol of resurrection, belonging to Ptah-Sokar-Osiris, the combined form who was popular in the last millennium of Egyptian culture.

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CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Cartonnage, with mummy, of a man. Decorated with figures of various deities, etc.
Inner coffin: Small panels with gods - minor spirits, some unnamed - and demons, some of them accompanied by symbols for identification - separated by bands of conventional clocked pattern.
Top: Four main scenes over body sep. by clocked borders with 3 rows of imitation of stone inlay of wedge shaped units that sometimes adorned expensive coffins, at ends of which are either 4 gods of Dead or 2 winged genii
Center - the symbol of Abydos - a primitive fetish who originally was composed of a wig up on a pole with 2 feathers on top as a headdress, flanked on both sides by winged uraei, 2 figures of Osiris and Isis, 4 sons of Horus standing, 2 on either side.
Mummy with beard on a bris under a catafalque both elaborately decorated. Isis and Nephthys kneel on stools of similar patterns placed at head and feet. At foot is Anubis also with his symbol - 4 sons of Horus seated in corners with knives.
Ded symbol of Osiris with human head and arms (before him headdress of Amon-Re?) with Horus flanked by winged genii and sacred eyes.
Shrine with boat of Sokar Clairis
6 small panels on lower legs: 2 with winged crowned vultures, 2 cont. 4 gods of Dead, 2 with panels on feet with jackals.
Condition: Some chips and scratches; basically good.

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